Texas Gov. Rick Perry tours Hiawatha factory, supports U.S. Senate candidate Matt Whitaker

HIAWATHA - Texas Gov. Rick Perry toured a Hiawatha factory Wednesday afternoon to campaign for U.S. Senate Candidate Matt Whitaker.

During the half-hour tour of Master Tool and Manufacturing, 1450 Progress Drive, both Perry and Whitaker commented on their hopes to loosen federal regulations that they feel negatively impact small businesses and manufacturing companies.

When speaking to a group after the tour, Whitaker pointed to some of the Texas Governor's policies - such as limited regulation, modest taxes, free trade and protection of private property rights - as successes that, if implemented on a federal level, could have a positive impact on the economy.

'Governor Perry did it by making sure that the rules were fair and everybody could compete and they didn't pick winners and losers, they didn't give industries a favor, they just said come to Texas and we'll get out of your way, you be honest, we'll be honest, and you've seen it work,” Whitaker said, adding he'd like to emulate those policies if elected.

'I know conservatism works and I know that we have to pick the best candidate in six days to not only defeat Bruce Braley, but to take those ideals to D.C. and get them done and I believe I am the candidate,” he said.

Though the visit marked Perry's third to Iowa this year, he said the trip was about supporting Whitaker's campaign and not about preparation.

'Matt is a very loyal friend and a person who I had the privilege to get to know in a personal and professional way,” Perry said of the former U.S. Attorney from Clive. 'There are four very capable - the best I can tell - quality candidates that are running for United States Senate. I happen to know this one. I know he will make a great United States senator, but at the end of the day any of them will be better than the idea of Congressman (Bruce) Braley.”

Perry formally endorsed Whitaker in the Iowa U.S. Senate race in April.

Whitaker will face off against State Sen. Joni Ernst, Mark Jacobs, Sam Clovis and Scott Schaben for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination during the primary election on June 3. Braley will be the only U.S. Senate candidate on the Democratic primary ballot.

Though Perry said he hasn't made any decisions about his political or professional plans beyond January, he said he plans to make several more trips to Iowa to support Gov. Terry Branstad and the Republican U.S. senate candidate before the November election.

'Those are two very important elections and they are tied together,” Perry said.

'Picking up the United States Senate is important for this country. We have a senate that is either dysfunctional or out of touch. I think it's probably both.”